Forum Moderators: martinibuster
The AdSense Team told another WebmasterWorld member to refer to them as "Sponsored Links" rather than anything else. [webmasterworld.com]
The TOS specifically says not to label the ads "Sponsors," and yet Google *told* you to label them "Sponsored Links?"
Better safer than sorry :)
See Jenstar's post.
Sponsored Links
Advertisements
Advertisers
These hold the most accurate representation of your relationship with the ads, the advertisers, and/or Google - they show that neither the advertisers nor Google are actually sponsoring your site. That's why "Sponsors" is a misleading label.
Calling them "Cool Stuff", for example, is misleading and is a way of encouraging your visitors to click the ads.
Jomaxx is spot on with the comment above.
ASA.
That's why "Sponsors" is a misleading label.
I don't see how 'Sponsored Links' is acceptable while 'Sponsors' is not. To me, 'Sponsored Links' implies that those advertisers ARE sponsoring one's site. I have a community-based site with a large amount of repeat visitors and I'm pretty sure if I add that 'Sponsored Links' header my CTR would jump due to users wanting to 'support' the site. I'm holding back adding this because I don't think it's really legitimate. And I think it's a bit bizarre that Adsense allows this.
Does anyone else feel this way, or am I out of my mind?
which, as Brett said, is what they are
Well, based on Brett's previous posts in this forum, I tend to not put too much faith in what he says.
Plus having a clear, if arbitrary, policy means that they won't end up in the situation where different staff are giving conflicting advice about what text is acceptable and what isn't.
Right, and that's why I feel 'Sponsored Links' should not be acceptable. If I were a typical user who particpated on a particular web site every day, if I see 'Sponsored' anything, I'm going to be definitely more likely to click on an ad to support the site than had that header not been displayed. And this is a disservice to the advertisers. I suppose as a test, to prove my inclination, I could add this header for a day or two and see if CTR jumps.
Sponsored Links
Advertisements
Advertisers
Do not do anything that might be considered against the agreement just because someone recommends it. After all, the person that will suffer the consequences if it is found to be a violation is you.
(P.S. I'll grant you that it may encourage some people to click ads for the wrong reasons.)
How about "related sites"?
How about just observing Google's TOS? :-)
Threads like this one just go to show why many advertisers are leery of "content ads" and why they need greater control over where their ads run (or don't run).
Ditto. They *are* sponsored links. Anything else would be scamming your visitors and might be against FTC law in the US. (remember when the FTC told the se's to clean up their act? This is part of what they were talking about).
Label them as ads or sponsored links and don't like anyone talk you into anything else.
Ads from our sponsor Google:
Label them as ads or sponsored links and don't like anyone talk you into anything else.
Do not let anyone talk you into anything else.
"We are not allowed to incite you to click on the ads below, so please do not take anything on this page as an incitement for you to click on the clickable ad spots below. Thank you for your support!"
:)
SN
Is this ok?
No, anything that you put on the page that could potentially draw attention to the ads, is a definite no. Someone else here reported on the same issue previously, and even encouraging people NOT to click unless they are genuinely interested is not permitted. It does draw attention to the ads, even if you are telling them to ignore them ;)
What I'd like to clarify is whether having NO tagline is within TOS - thoughts?
When surfing myself, I don't notice that many people with any sort of "Sponsored Links" etc on their sites above/under/near the AdSense.
